All the unrest on the home reno front has made my house decidedly craft-UNfriendly of late. I haven't had time to work on anything substantial in ages. But I did have time to make a couple of new toys for Olive and Nestor. Here's my recipe for one of the simplest, most effective homemade cat toys in the world. I see them everywhere – Etsy, pet stores, the vet's office – but they're a cinch to make at home with fabric scraps. Catnip Ravioli 1. Cut two squares of quilting cotton or other crisp, tightly woven cotton (whatever size you like). Stack the squares with the WRONG sides facing. Pin on three sides. 2. Sew 5/8 inch or so in from the edge on each of the pinned sides. Start and end right off the edge, and don't worry about backstitching to secure the thread – it doesn't matter. Snip off the thread ends. 3. Grab a small bunch of craft stuffing and stuff into the hole. Dump in a few decent clumps of catnip, then add another little ball of the stuffing. 4. Pin the open edges together. Sew about 5/8 inch in from edge to close. Snip off thread ends. 5. Cut each edge with pinking shears to desired width. 6. Push the stuffing around to fill the centre and crush the catnip. Add one curious cat. 7. Enjoy the silliness that ensues. Do you grow your own catnip for your cats? I would love to hear your tips on growing it – if there are different varieties, what soil conditions work, and how you dry it. Nestor and Olive are eager for me to get the garden started!